Asia-focused commodity trading fund EFA Group has appointed Jacques-Olivier Thomann as senior adviser, providing management with strategic counsel and business insights.

He joins from BNP Paribas, where he was general manager of the Switzerland branch since 2009, responsible for structured finance, including commodity finance, commodity structured finance, export finance, project finance and shipping.

Thomann previously held various other positions within the bank in Geneva, Singapore and Paris, including as global head of commodity finance. He is one of the founders – and the honorary president – of the Geneva Trading and Shipping Association (GTSA), as well as a member of the executive board of the Geneva Financial Centre Foundation.

Francois Dotta, CEO of EFA Group, says: “We are very fortunate to have someone of Jacques-Olivier’s calibre and breadth of experience. He has been very active and enthusiastic about supporting the team with his invaluable guidance. With his wealth of knowledge in the banking and finance sectors, I am certain that Jacques-Olivier will add value to the group.”